The University of North Dakota was defeated 8-7 and 8-4 in today’s doubleheader against South Dakota State.

SDSU 8, UND 7

North Dakota fell one run short of defeating South Dakota State with the game ending in an 8-7 loss.

UND took an early lead in the first after Cami Bennett (Grass Pass, Ore.) singled to shortstop. Bennett stole second and junior D Jantzer (Grants Pass, Ore.) singled through the left side advancing Bennett to third. Caralyn Chewning (Willamina, Ore.) singled up the middle and advanced to second on the throw. She got the RBI for bringing in Bennett to score.

North Dakota advanced the lead to four after scoring three more runs in the top of the third. Bennett singled to shortstop and Jantzer and Chewning were walked. Kenna Olsen (Issaquah, Wash.) pinch hit for Megan Keegan (Elk Grove, Ill.) and singled scoring Chewning and Jantzer. Olsen now has 15 RBIs this season. Emily Bell (Elgin, Ill.) singled to right field bringing Elizabeth Cudney (Montague, Mich.) home to make it a 4-0 game.

South Dakota State scored a run in the bottom of the third to cut UND’s lead to three.

UND extended their lead to six after scoring three more runs in the fourth. A pitch hit Bennett and Jantzer singled to right field advance Bennett to second. Chewning flied out to centerfield and Jantzer was able to advance to second. Bennett then advanced to third on a wild pitch. Amanda Johnson (Ashby, Minn.) homered to centerfield bring in three runners. This homerun landed her at RBI number 16 for the year.

The Jackrabbits answered back by scoring five runs in the bottom of the fourth, cutting UND’s lead to one.

SDSU managed to score a run in both the fifth and the sixth innings, and UND was unable to hold their early lead.

“Amanda Johnson had the longest homerun I’ve seen in my career which gave us a six-run lead,” said head coach Eric Oakley. “We can’t give away a lead like that and expect to be considered a winning program. Walks and misplays will almost always haunt you. Allowing them to happen after taking a lead is a sign of complacency. Complacency has no place in this program.”

SDSU 8, UND 4

In the second game of the day, North Dakota took an early 3-0 lead after Nicole Babrowski (Oak Lawn, Ill.) singled up the middle. D Jantzer (Grants Pass, Ore.) got out at first in a sacrifice hit to advance Babrowski to second. Caralyn Chewning (Willamina, Ore.) singled to center field and was able to advance to second on the throw. She scored Babrowski for her 15th RBI of the season. Amanda Johnson (Ashby, Minn.) tripled to left center scoring Chewning. Hannah Tometich (Aberdeen, Wash.) singled up the middle batting in Johnson and giving UND the early 3-0 lead.

South Dakota State scored one run in the bottom of the first and scored four more in the second, taking over the lead.

UND answered back with a run in the third after Jantzer was walked and Chewning lined out to shortstop. Hannah Tometich doubled down the left field line scoring Jantzer to make it a 4-4 game.

The Jackrabbits score one run in the fourth and two more runs in the bottom of the fifth resulting in an 8-4 win over UND.